Merrimack Police released this image from a surveillance camera at the Bank of America branch in Merrimack as a man in an Obama mask robbed the bank.

Man in Obama mask robs Merrimack bank, caught within minutes

JOHN GRIFFIN JR.

MERRIMACK — The bank robber wore a full-face President Obama mask and carried a Walmart shopping bag when he approached a teller and demanded cash Wednesday morning at the Bank of America branch at 356 Daniel Webster Highway.

Police said they later determined the man charged with the robbery had a loaded handgun with him, but did not say whether the robber displayed the weapon during the robbery.

When police responded to the bank at 10:38 a.m., they learned a man wearing a mask, suitcoat, tie, jeans and gloves had demanded money from a teller and left with an undetermined amount of cash.

Witness descriptions pointed officers in the direction the robber had gone. Police Lt. Paul Trepaney went to the area of Columbus Circle, where he spotted a man matching the description of the robber — except for the President Obama mask — coming from behind one of the businesses.

After what police described as a brief investigation, officers took the man, identified as John Griffin Jr., 52, of 186 S. Main St., Newport, into custody.

Griffin was charged with robbery and is being held on $75,000 cash-only bail at the Valley Street Jail, pending a probable cause hearing Sept. 20 in 9th Circuit Court, Merrimack District Division.